Melissa’s Soapbox

The canal zone, and a lot of Panama City, is filled with ghosts of the extraordinary efforts of many people who contributed (and indeed failed, died, suffered, etc.) to designing and building the 8th wonder of the world.  Among the ghosts are official buildings like the one below which is still in use for canal administration.  Outside this building is a monument to George Goethals (1858 – 1928) who is accredited as being the most reputable and action oriented of all the chief engineers during the American dig.

Born in Brooklyn, Goethals graduated from West Point in 1880 and was immediately appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  After 2 different American chief engineers quit at Panama in complete frustration, Teddy Roosevelt gave Goethals the job in 1907.  At this point, construction resumed with military-like discipline, organization, and precision.  Proficient in working with (and around) governmental red tape, Goethals knew how to get things done thereby diminishing a major complaint of previous canal managers immediately.  Goethals instituted a strict accounting and costing system matching materials, jobs, and labor with actual spending and returns on investment eventually saving the American taxpayers millions of dollars.  Labor was organized meticulously to keep everyone busy and efficient.  Goethals held a meeting every Sunday where any worker could publicly state their grievances directly.  Ultimately, the canal was completed in 1914 and one year ahead of the target date of June 1, 1915.

As the first Civil Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Goethals’ efforts were praised by engineers, financiers, politicians, and managers alike.  Goethals retired the post in 1916 when he was appointed to chair the committee researching the Adamson Law which established the 8 hour work day as law.  He was further bestowed with multiple honors such as a World War II war ship, an honorary doctorate in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and the bridge between New York City and Elizabeth, New Jersey.

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